225/The Path of Website Creation is a tough one

From Radiant Heart MUSH

The Path of Website Creation is a tough one
Date of Scene: 10 August 2023
Location: Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis: The student council has run into an issue with a new project. Fortunately, they are able to reach out to some students for help. In this case, Koji. Can Koji get the site working in time, with the assistance of Reika? Probably.
Cast of Characters: 143, Koji Silvia


Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
The student council had run into a difficult situation. While creating a site for the council, to better aid students to both reach out for aid, as well as coordinate events and clubs. Unfortunately, midway through the process, the one developing the site had gotten sick. Most of the basic work was done... but organizing all of it, setting up the file structures, the images, ensuring the directives were set to send emails and such to the correct email addresses, still had to be ready. And the site was supposed to be ready by the weekend.

Unfortunately, while the student in question had apologized profusely for the situation it put them in, there was nothing more that could be done. Reika would have done it herself, but she was unable to do the extensive knowledge on website design required. While she had, in response, begun researching the matter... they needed a professional, now, to get them started. So they'd reached out to the computer club.

In this case, they had recommended Koji Silvia. Which was why he had been requested by the club head once he'd arrived for the meeting, to go and help the student council. When he'd arrive, he'd just see Reika, sitting in the office, a book on basic website design in her hands, reading it calmly and slowly.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Being called in to the Student Council room in the middle of summer was a bit of a surprise for Koji, but as usual, he's willing to roll with most things.

But it means a bit of a surprise as he comes in the door, moving with a little bit of haste and still dressed for his current summer job, which is apparently at FaM-Mart!

The purple logo'd shirt is half-hidden under a vest and the slacks have a little curry stain on one leg, speaking to where at his store he's been working in today, and with him is a black square carrycase with the Computer Club's markings on it. As he stops on the way in, he sees the lack of other people present, and with a slight adjustment of his glasses, the young man asks, "Excuse me, Miss? I got an e-mail through computer club that there was a problem they needed help with?"

He seems to stare for a moment longer than is normally polite, but Reika's visage seems to be niggling at the back of his memory.

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki glanced up when he came into the room, before neatly bookmarking the page, closing it, then placing it on the desk. She got to her feet and looked up at him. "Koji Silvia-san?" she asked, confirming his identity. Once she had that, she nodded. "I am Reika Aoki, a vice president for the student council." Radiant Heart had a strange... thing where there were multiple student councils and organizations within it. When you had THIS many students, it made sense to ensure they were all heard.

She then motioned to the computer. "Were you already informed of what we are requesting of you and do you believe you will be able to perform as needed?" she asked. "I, on behalf of the student council, am sorry for having to involve you in this matter. Please understand if not for the direness of the situation, we never would have considered bothering another student with this matter." On the up side, at least the needs, and proper information on where to set everything up, was there. It mostly just needed someone who knew how to properly code and register everything and to make sure there weren't any issues before it all went live.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Immediately, as he comes forwards, the young man with bun-bound black hair asks, "Do you have the website's admin login and password? Without it we can't really do anything to the site."

Reaching over, he grabs a chair close by your desk and pulls it over so that he can put down his case and then take off his vest and settle it over the back. walking around the side closer, he finally says, "It's good to meet you, Miss Aoki-chan. Sorry for coming here in such a rush, but it sounded like this was something you needed a rush on."

He puts on a small smile for you then, one of those polite little things that is meant to put people at ease, and as he shifts his head slightly so that his glasses don't reflect nefariously off the school's indoor lighting, he closes his eyes to complete the image. Opening them again, he scoots his lenses slightly up further on his nose and looks down at the screen, "Also, I need the files of the person who was working on this so I can see what their design concept is. Best things is to try and build from what they've done than start from scratch. Web design isn't my best subject, but I did build club websites and helped out with some other stuff in middle school."

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki nodded before motioning towards a small binder of necessary administration information. While the student had gotten sick suddenly, he had kept good notes on everything. All the passwords were there, as well as the file structures, the folders everything was listed under. All the domains and such. All of it needed to be properly organized and set, of course.

In this case, Reika was at least able to direct him to where all of the files were, get him logged in and even get to the site... unfortunately, it was coding everything, setting the main structure up, that she couldn't do by herself. Which she had to lean on him for.

"Your state is no issue, Silvia-san. As the requesting party, the council is merely grateful you were able to aid us on such short notice."

What needed to be done was clear... it was the doing of it, that was the issue. Almost like a quest. 'Slay ten orcs at the rice fields' was a simple quest... if you knew how to slay an orc and where the rice fields were, but otherwise it didn't mean much.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Looking at the whole thing, Koji says, "Well..." And he reaches up to undo his bun so that he can shake his hair out and let it lay back au naturale, "If you have to stay here with me, you have my condolences. This might take a bit."

He pauses a bit, and then adds with that same faint little grin, "Okay, so... what's your preference on music and snacks?"

That being said, he looks at the structure that's already there, and begins to sort into the image folder, going over all the logos and other items that are in place, checking the pictures and other larger items for watermarks and other things to be concerned about, and also goes over some of the sample pages to review over how the whole thing is supposed to look from the base page that the original designer intended.

All in all it doesn't seem anything like the movies. Not even a rash of hacker-style typing. A lot of clicks and shifts, and the occasional bit of html... which can be recognized from the book that was out, "If you don't mind, I brought a speaker so we can play the music in the room."

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki nodded. "That is no trouble," Reika said before taking her book and moving to sit down in one of the chairs. "This project is for the good of all students of Radiant Heart, it is part of my duty to do all I can to ensure that it is delivered as promised to all those depending on us," she said firmly.

"As for music, I generally prefer classical, though lately I have been enjoying the musical talents of Michiru Kaiou," she said. Not only was that name well known, it was the name of a student who had recently begun to attend the school! A full on celebrity. "As for snacks, I believe in this case it would matter which ones you prefer. After all, you are coming to our aid in this situation, offering you nourishment in these times is little in comparison to the aid you are offering us."

She uhhhh... apparently... takes her job *incredibly* seriously. "I have no objection if you want to listen to music. Let me know if you require anything for your work, I've already prepared this evening to ensure everything could go smoothly."

INCREDIBLY seriously.

Koji Silvia has posed:
There is a slight, but tangible sigh, from the young man.

Looking to the younger student council member for a good long moment, Koji seems to be considering something, and then he moves to stand up and move to stand in front of her, "First... when you mean classical, do you mean classical european, or do you mean classical Japanese? Because I know a couple things that might be a good middle road between both our likes. As for the snacks. It's not just for me. If you have to be stuck here waiting... because website maintenance is very boring work... I want you to feel welcome in this space."

After that comes the expression, something almost apologetic in it, and he goes back to sit down, taking a speaker out of his bag and putting it next to the computer tower, following it with his phone. Both waiting and ready, he asks, "Since we're stuck here and it's a treat, what would you think of something classic? Pocky, sesame snaps, and a couple Ramune?"

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki glanced up from her book. "Japanese classical, though I haven't found european classical distasteful or anything like that. But you may listen to what you like, there are not any types of music I dislike to a distressing amount," she said firmly. Honestly, though, she'd have likely preferred something soft, or nothing at all. She had to study this book so she could continue to maintain the site once Silvia finished with the work.

However, as his commentary on 'snacks', she paused and stared at him. After a few moments she nodded. "If you desire, of course. Since you are working on the site, I can go acquire them," she said, before getting to her feet. She was also a little stiff, though. Obviously not the most... she didn't seem to be the warmest person. "Is there any particular brand you'd prefer?" she asked.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Another slight slump of his shoulders later, Koji concedes this round with the stoic Reika, and says, "Just some chocolate pocky and some regular or melon flavor ramune, if you please."

Sitting back down to work, he goes to his collection and picks out something on the slightly more mellow side... Yoshida Brothers. A combination of traditional shamisen and wood flute with more modern beats and rhythm that give it an almost tribal feel. Settling back, he rolls his neck and begins to work. And just as stated, this is nothing excited or worthy of a glorious montage. But the music does help the mood for passing the time as he builds on the database that will be the foundation for the site, all those fiddly little e-mail commands being inserted here and there, tested, checked on a dummy account, tested again and then noted in a document that he's started for the regular person marked 'Dev Diary'. A spreadsheet of implementations, changes from the base idea, failures and success, and the fixes to cause the success.

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki frowned slightly when she noticed his shoulders slump. "Is... something wrong, Silvia-san?" she asked, concern filling her voice. "Please, do not hesitate to ask if you need anything else. You are already doing quite a bit to help the counsel as it is, there is no need for you to be unfairly compensated for your efforts," she said firmly.

This path before the counsel was one that they had chosen, but hardships or not they would see it through. She had agreed to help in this, and she aimed to follow through. However, Silvia-san had not made that agreement and the fact he was willing to help... it was a priceless benefit that she had wished they hadn't had to request of him to begin with.

Koji Silvia has posed:
When not actively working together on a project or trying to make something that shouldn't work work to the satisfaction, computer people are often times rather quiet with their work, sometimes to an intense degree of focus.

Which it's why that despite your words, it's almost twenty minutes before he finally responds, looking up from one part of things being completed to say, "Nothing's wrong. I just don't like the thought of you being here bored, to be honest. Movies and TV shows make computer work falsely exciting to keep the audience engaged."

To that he chuckles, "Most of what I've been doing is accidentally breaking and fixing things with my limited skill. I think I've got your e-mail stuff mostly working to how it's here in your regular person's work bible. The easier part is page design."
If the snacks are already here, he'll pop a pocky into his mouth to chew on for a bit, and then adds as he reading something over, "Are you liking it here at the school? It's so different from a regular one. So many younger students and so many clubs, it can be like a whirlwind."

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki had left him alone once he obviously got focused on his work. She'd, eventually, stepped out to gather the desired snacks. She wasn't one to hesitate on the needs of others, at least. She'd then have placed the bag of treats on the counter for him...

Only for him to, eventually, answer her. "I'm sorry?" she asked, glancing up. OH! He was answering her from earlier. "Do not worry, I'm not bored," she said with a small, genuine smile. "I've been keeping myself more than entertained."

... Because studying a book to learn how to properly code was 'entertaining'.

"As long as the site is able to meet the needs of all of our students, I will be more than satisfied."

However, his question on if she liked it here at this school gave her pause for a moment, before she nodded. "Indeed. I do enjoy it here. It's... different from my last school, but the classes are some of the best in the country and it is an honor to attend such a prestigious academy. Quite a bit more populated than my last school, so we are often quite busy here in with the student counsel."

Koji Silvia has posed:
The admission that there is some pleasure for here gets a nod from the older student as he types away at something, only to get the consternated look of a player who has run up against the difficulty of a quest. Orcs in rice fields indeed. But he relaxes back once more as Koji finds that solution and then almost out of habit he reaches down and strokes the gem-like orb sticking out on his smartwatch, like some kind of lucky charm.

"I admit, this place makes me nervous. Everyone wants you to succeed so much, and it can be daunting. Before coming here, I already knew where I was going after high school and what kind of jobs I'd be looking for. I always like to know the road ahead."

Back into the notebook and he does something, which causes Reika's phone to buzz, "It's a test-text from the reminder system you wanted in place. Just send an acknowledge."

He goes on, just making conversation, "My grades were just right to get me into a high school where they had some good tech school classes and references. College is laudable, but I figure an engineer's school was best. There's something fun about seeing how things work. My mom..."

The pause is palpable, "Bought me this old Zune off of a bargain site because I saw a video about how to update one. I spent a summer scrounging all the parts, tried it... broke it... tried it again, broke it worse. But the fun was in always finding out WHY it happened and what I could do."

Another pocky later, and the relative silence is cut by him smack-popping the ramune open and taking a sip, "Here at school I get to play with old smartphones donated to the club to learn how they're constructed."

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki nodded, listening as he spoke. He knew where his path was? Following one's road... it was a laudible accomplishment. The fact he knew it from such a young age, as well? It was definitely praise worthy. Admittedly... there were many times she questioned her own path, as it were. But she always had her grandfather to reach out to in those times.

Or... had. Before she came here. Now... not so much. She pulled out her phone, checking it, then confirming the email to the other members of the council who likely got pinged by it. She sent the acknowledgement a moments later.

He certainly seemed... empassioned by it. And that made her smile. "It's good that you can find this school nurturing your passions. It's because of students like you that this site is so important, to better support those who are working to achieve their goals and walk their own roads."

Still, she wasn't... the most talkative. A bit distant, almost mysterious. But... the truth was? She just... hadn't considered her own road much lately. Since she'd come here, helped with everything. She... wasn't sure where she was supposed to go next at all...

Koji Silvia has posed:
Three hours of idle chatter, introspection, music ranging from the serene to a bit more energetic but all stemming from the veins of classical Japanese sounds Later...

Koji sits back and he motions for you to come over!

"Alright then. The e-mail messaging is set up, and it's made so you just need to drag and drop names to clubs from the school directory. There's a social media page for internal stuff now so you can set up a single post and blast it to the basic social pages from here. There's a form repository, a meeting schedule calendar that hooks to a third party site to make sure everyone can agree on times, and the link to the School Store site is working properly now, so people can place orders from their school computers."

Standing up, he turns off the bluetooth speaker and slips it back into his bag, "There's something weird with system, parts of it that don't want to behave like they should, but honestly... everything here has a little strange to it. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing."

That all being said, he bows once more, and pulls his vest up and on, "And thanks for letting me talk. I don't really... do that much. I mean my roommate knows about me some, but... sometimes you need to get outside of yourself. Anyways... have a good afternoon."

Finishing his ramune, and heading for the door, you can see he left EXACTLY half the box of pocky for you. He didn't even open that part of the package.

Reika Aoki (143) has posed:
Reika Aoki nodded, taking a clipboard and pen, writing things down and... "I'll need to run some tests, but I'll send you a message if there is anything else that needs to be done," she said with a small smile. "On behalf of the student council, thank you again for your work."

He might also notice the book, which she had only begun when he got here... was now quite a bit further ahead, judging by the bookmark. Had she really read through all of that? Or was she just skipping a lot.

"I'll likely be done soon and have the keys to lock up behind myself," she said with a smile, before moving behind the counter. "If you-- oh! Silvia-san, you forgot your pocky?" she said. Offering it to him. But well... when she realized he left it for her, her cheeks got a little red, though she smiled none the less. "Thank you, that was very thoughtful of you."

But, as always, work soon called... and she got to double checking everything on the site, ensuring things worked that they needed before she could confirm it. They, fortunately, still had a few days to test. But there was no time like the current, right?

Especially... when you were staying in the dorms.